Massaging device driven by exercise apparatus

ABSTRACT

An inflatable massaging device, such as a belt, is cyclically inflated and deflated in coordinated action with the operation of an exercise apparatus requiring the expenditure of muscle power.

United States Patent Simjian 1451 June 20, 1972 54] MASSAGING DEVICEDRIVEN BY 1,646,590 10/1927 Mildenberg ..128/64 EXERCISE APPARATUS2,259,551 10/1941 Burke ..l28/25 R [72] Inventor: Luther G. Sin iian, 7Laurel Lane, Greenwich, Conn. 06830 [22] Filed: Oct. 8, 1970 [2l] ApplNo.: 79,113

52 us. 01 ..128/64 [51] lnt.Cl. ..A6lh 7/00 [58] Field of Search 128/25,64, 26, 24

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 505,745 9/ l 893 Barclay..128/26 UX FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATXONS 166,270 12/ l 958 Sweden128/64 Primary Examiner-L. W. Trapp A!tomey-Ervin B. Steinberg [57]ABSTRACT An inflatable massaging device, such as a belt, is cyclicallyinflated and deflated in coordinated action with the operation of anexercise apparatus requiring the expenditure of muscle power.

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MASSAGING DEVICE DRIVEN BY EXERCISE APPARATUS This invention broadlyrefers to a massaging device and more specifically concerns a massagingdevice which is controlled responsive to the expenditure of musclepower. Quite specifically, this invention concerns an inflatablemassaging device, such as a belt, adapted to be strapped to portions ofthe human body and the massaging device being cyclically inflated anddeflated responsive to muscle power expended by operating an exerciseapparatus, such as a bicycle, a rowing apparatus, a jogging device andthe like.

Exercise apparatus of the type indicated which are operated by personsfor the purpose of physical fitness and for toning muscles are wellknown and are installed in many homes, club houses, exercise rooms, etc.Similarly, there are known belts which may be strapped to variousportions of the human body and which include either weights or avibrating mechanism, often driven by electric power, for reducingpurposes or eliminating fatty tissue.

The present invention concerns an inflatable device, such as a belt,adapted to be worn when operating an exercise apparatus, and means forcyclically inflating and deflating the belt in response to the operationof the exercise apparatus, whereby the inflatable device acts as amassaging device. In this manner the person operating the exerciseapparatus simultaneously can obtain a massage and thereby enhance hisphysical well-being. One of the important features of the inventionconcerns the arrangement wherein the speed of cyclic inflation anddeflation of the belt or similar massaging device is controlled by theexpenditure of muscle power applied for operating the exerciseapparatus.

One of the principal objects of this invention is, therefore, theprovision of a novel massaging device.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of a novelmassaging device which is cyclically inflated and deflated.

Another salient feature of the present invention concerns the provisionof an inflatable massaging device, such as a belt, which is controlledresponsive to the operation of an exercise apparatus, such as a bicycle.

A further object of the instant invention concerns the provision of aninflatable massaging device which is cyclically inflated and deflated ata speed controlled responsive to the effort expended by the wearer ofthe massaging device while operating an exercise apparatus.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a novelarrangement for providing coordinated massaging action and expenditureof muscle power.

Further and still other objects of this invention will be more clearlyapparent from the following description when taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a typical embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a view of an inflatable belt;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the belt shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view along line 44 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of an alternative embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of a still further alternativeembodiment;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of still another embodiment, and

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of an alternative embodiment using adifferent type of exercising apparatus.

Referring now to the figures and FIG. I in particular, there is shown aperson 10 who is seated on a bicycle type exercising apparatus 12 whichis provided with a set of foot pedals 14. The person 10 receivesexercise and expends muscle energy as the pedals 14 are rotated in aconventional manner. The person 10 also wears an inflatable belt whichwill be described in greater detail in connection with FIGS. 2, 3 and 4.Generally, it should be understood that while the belt 20 in the presentembodiment is shown as being worn around the waist of the person 10, thebelt may be worn also around other portions of the human body, forinstance, a portion of the leg or arm, etc. The belt 20 essentiallycomprises a fabric backing which is fitted with a set of transverseflexible ribs 22 which are held in place by a strap 24. The ribs areadapted to be inflated by pneumatic pressure using for instance an airhose 26 which connects to each of the ribs 22 by a feeder line 26A. Thebelt is fitted also with a set of straps 28 and suitable fasteners 30for strapping the belt around a portion of the body.

It will be understood that the belt forms a massaging device when theribs 22 are cyclically inflated and deflated. For the sake of clarity,the ribs 22 in FIG. 2 are shown in the inflated condition, but it willbe understood that without inflation the ribs are collapsed.

As shown in FIG. 1 the bicycle chain 32 is fed about a sprocket gear 34and a sprocket gear 36. The sprocket gear 36 is coupled by a shaft to anair pump 38 which responsive to the rotation of the gear 36 supplies airunder pressure via the conduit 40 and via a check valve 42 to a pressurereservoir 44.

The pressure reservoir 44 is fitted-with an adjustable pressureregulator valve 46 which sets the maximum pressure to which thereservoir 44 can be charged. The massaging belt 20 is connected to thereservoir 44 via the conduit 26 and a solenoid controlled flow valve 48.The rotation of the sprocket gear 36 driving the pump 38 drives also apulley 50 which via a belt 52 drives a further pulley 54 which isconnected to a mechanical timing cam means 56. A timing cam (not shown)forming a part of the timing means 56 includes an electrical switchingmeans (not shown) which via an electrical conductor 58 controls theoperation of the electrical solenoid valve 48.

Operation of the present arrangement may be visualized from thefollowing description: As the person 10 operates the pedals l4 andexpends muscle power the sprocket chain 32 is rotated to drive the pump38 which provides air under pressure to the reservoir 44. The compressedair in the reservoir 44 via the fluid line 26 supplies pressure to thebelt 20 in order to inflate the ribs 22 of the massaging device. Thesolenoid valve 48 is controlled by the timing means 56 in such a mannerthat it cyclically permits air from the reservoir 44 to reach the belt20 for inflating the ribs 22, then shuts off this flow and vents the aircontained in the massaging belt to ambient, thereby deflating the ribs22 and then re-cycles to cause renewed inflation of the massagingdevice. It will be apparent therefore that the person 10 receives amassaging action, the speed of which is controlled by the speed at whichthe pedals 14 are operated. The amount of inflation is controllable bymeans of the control valve 46. It will be apparent to those skilled inthe art that while the timing means 56 is shown as being responsive tothe speed of operation of the exercise apparatus, the timing means maybe connected directly to a source of electric or mechanical power andthen be independent of the speed at which muscle power is expended.

FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment wherein the air pump 38 (FIG. 1)is coupled to drive a gear box 60 which is fitted at its output sidewith a cam 62. The cam 62 controls the operation of a flow valve 64which is provided with a sliding control element 66 to cause eitherfluid flow from the pump 38 to the massaging belt 20, or the release ofthe pressure from the belt 20 to ambient. Furthermore, a pressure reliefvalve 46A is disposed on the massaging device itself in order to ena blethe person 10 to readily regulate the inflation pressure.

A further modification is shown in FIG. 6 wherein the sprocket 32 drivesa gear box 68 which via a pitman 70 controls the operation of aslidevalve 72 which, in turn, causes the cyclic inflation and deflationof the massaging device 20.

A further alternative embodiment is shown in FIG. 7 wherein a tank ofcompressed air 74 is provided. The tank is connected via a reducingvalve 76, a conduit 78, a control valve and a conduit 82 to themassaging device 20. The valve 80 is controlled by a suitable actuatingmechanism 84 as described heretofore. The valve actuating mechanism 84may be operated in response to the expenditure of muscle power as seenin FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, or it may be cycled independently by beingconnected, for instance, to a source of electrical energy. As before,however, the valve 80 will cause cyclic inflation and deflation of theribs 22 of the massaging device 20. It may be mentioned here that whilethe belt 20 as depicted shows a plurality of transverse inflatable ribs,it shall be understood that the ribs may be arranged to run in thelengthwise direction or that the inflatable elements may be a multitudeof localized inflatable projections. The exact nature and shape of theinflatable massaging device may depend upon individual preference and,if desired, subject to medical advice.

In FIG. 8 a further variation of the present arrangement is shown. Theexercise device is one in which the handle bars 90 are operated forphysical exercise. Specifically, the handle bars 90 are rocked back andforth in order to provide exercise to the arm muscles and to the chestarea of the person. For this purpose a double acting air pump 92 isprovided having a piston and piston rod 94 reciprocated by the action ofthe handle bars 90. The air compressed by the pump 92 is provided to acheck valve 96 and then used in a manner as described previously. itshall be understood that the design of the pneumatic pumps and of thecontrol valves is well understood in the art and their specificdescription and design details have been omitted.

In summary then, it will be apparent that the present arrangement is onein which the person expending muscle power simultaneously receives amassaging action in order to improve his physical well-being and enhancethe exercising effort. Specifically, an inflatable massaging device iscoupled to an exercise apparatus in such a manner that as the personuses the exercise apparatus he produces fluid pressure which causescyclic inflation and deflation of the massaging device. Alternatively,if the fluid pressure is provided by some other means, such as a storagetank, the operation of the control valve which causes cyclic inflationand deflation of the massaging device can be controlled responsive tothe expenditure of muscle power by connecting flow controlling timingmeans to the motion imparted to the exercise apparatus.

What is claimed is:

I. An apparatus of the type described comprising: an exercisingapparatus of the bicycle type requiring the expenditure of muscle powerto provide mechanical motion; an inflatable massaging device, and meansresponsive to said motion coupled to said massaging device forcyclically inflating and deflating said massaging device.

2. An apparatus of the type described comprising: an exercisingapparatus of the rowing type requiring the expenditure of muscle powerto provide mechanical motion; an.inflatable massaging device, and meansresponsive to said motion coupled to said massaging device forcyclically inflating and deflating said massaging device.

3. An apparatus of the type described comprising: an exercisingapparatus of the bicycle type requiring the expenditure of muscle powerto provide mechanical motion; an inflatable massaging device; meansresponsive to said motion which include a fluid pump coupled to saidmassaging device for cyclically inflating said massaging device; fluidpressure responsive means coupled for regulating the fluid pressure towhich said massaging device can be inflated; a control valve coupledbetween said pump and said massaging device. and timing means forcontrolling said control valve to cause said massaging device to becyclically inflated and deflated.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3. and including a fluid pressurereservoir coupled between said pump and said massaging device, and acheck valve coupled between said pump and reservoir.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3, said timing means including camdriven means for controlling the operation of said valve.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3, and including means forcoupling said timing means to the mechanical motion provided to saidexercising apparatus.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3, said pump being drivenresponsive to rotation.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3, said pump being driven in areciprocating manner.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3, said fluid pressure responsivemeans being mounted for reach by a person wearing said massaging devicearound a portion of his body.

10. An apparatus of the type described comprising: an exercisingapparatus requiring the expenditure of muscle power to providemechanical motion; an inflatable massaging device adapted to be worn bythe person operating said exercising apparatus; a source of pressurizedgas coupled for cyclically inflating said massaging device, and controlmeans coupling said source of gas to said massaging device and beingresponsive to the operation of said exercising apparatus for causingcyclic inflation and deflation of said massaging device in coordinatedaction with the operation of said exercising apparatus.

1. An apparatus of the type described comprising: an exercising apparatus of the bicycle type requiring the expenditure of muscle power to provide mechanical motion; an inflatable massaging device, and means responsive to said motion coupled to said massaging device for cyclically inflating and deflating said massaging device.
 2. An apparatus of the type described comprising: an exercising apparatus of the rowing type requiring the expenditure of muscle power to provide mechanical motion; an inflatable massaging device, and means responsive to said motion coupled to said massaging device for cyclically inflating and deflating said massaging device.
 3. An apparatus of the type described comprising: an exercising apparatus of the bicycle type requiring the expenditure of muscle power to provide mechanical motion; an inflatable massaging devicE; means responsive to said motion which include a fluid pump coupled to said massaging device for cyclically inflating said massaging device; fluid pressure responsive means coupled for regulating the fluid pressure to which said massaging device can be inflated; a control valve coupled between said pump and said massaging device, and timing means for controlling said control valve to cause said massaging device to be cyclically inflated and deflated.
 4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3, and including a fluid pressure reservoir coupled between said pump and said massaging device, and a check valve coupled between said pump and reservoir.
 5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3, said timing means including cam driven means for controlling the operation of said valve.
 6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3, and including means for coupling said timing means to the mechanical motion provided to said exercising apparatus.
 7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3, said pump being driven responsive to rotation.
 8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3, said pump being driven in a reciprocating manner.
 9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3, said fluid pressure responsive means being mounted for reach by a person wearing said massaging device around a portion of his body.
 10. An apparatus of the type described comprising: an exercising apparatus requiring the expenditure of muscle power to provide mechanical motion; an inflatable massaging device adapted to be worn by the person operating said exercising apparatus; a source of pressurized gas coupled for cyclically inflating said massaging device, and control means coupling said source of gas to said massaging device and being responsive to the operation of said exercising apparatus for causing cyclic inflation and deflation of said massaging device in coordinated action with the operation of said exercising apparatus. 